Chapter 11
“Rita, are you okay?”
I pressed my fingers into my palm.
I had almost held it together.
But when I met Lucas’s concerned gaze, my emotions instantly broke.
I collapsed into his arms, crying uncontrollably.
That night, we drank a lot.
Lucas listened patiently as ! poured out my past.
I told him all my grievances, all my hurts.
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Chapter
“My marriage was a complete failure…”
I shook my head with a bitter smile, finishing the last of my drink.
“Do you still love him?”
Lucas’s voice was rougher than usual.
In the dim light, it sounded incredibly sexy.
My thoughts were suddenly blanked, my gaze locking with his. His eyes held a concern and restraint that struck deep.
Do I still love him?
I thought about the emotions I felt earlier that day when I saw Ethan’s name, and there was no trace of joy. Only endless disgust
and nausea.
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Actually, when I lay in the hospital bed and the doctor declared that I had miscarried, my hatred for him had already surpassed my love.
I hated him for deceiving me, hated him for hurting me.
He was my first love.
I had trusted him so deeply, given him everything, only to be met with this betrayal in return.
After I denied it, he took the empty wine glass from my hand and set it down.
He gently led me over to the floor–to–ceiling window.
We both looked up at the stars in the night sky, clear and bright.
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I knew he was trying to comfort me, afraid that I was upset.
I was about to tell him that I was fine, that the emotions would pass.
But the next moment, I met his gaze.
“Rita, I like you.”
What?
My breath caught in my throat.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?”
“After seeing your designs at Professor White’s, I was deeply drawn to the
free–spirited soul within them.”
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“I unconsciously started following the domestic news, looking out for potential new stars, but none of them were like you.”
“Until one day, I ran into Audrey. She often mentioned you, saying you were her role model.”
“So when we heard you were coming back to the industry, we were truly happy for you.”
“Every designer’s pen can create their own little world, but since your return, I couldn’t see that shining light in your world, as if something was overshadowing it.”
“I think… maybe it’s because of your experiences in marriage, the changes they caused, that made you lose some confidence.”
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“But I’m so glad that you’ve adjusted yourself so quickly.”
“I don’t know when it started, but now, every one of your emotions stirs my heart.”
“I love watching you work with such confidence, as if no challenge could ever defeat you, as if you have a solution for everything.”
“When you cry, my heart aches right along with you.”
“Rita, I know confessing to you now might be too sudden, and I don’t expect an immediate
answer.”
“But I want you to know, you don’t need to deny yourself because of a failed relationship. You’ll never be a failure, no matter what. You are incredible, and you
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deserve the best this world has to offer.”
His voice was gentle, yet it rang loud and clear.
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